Essays, Art and Plays by Dan

The poem:

last Valentine's Day—
all the socks in my drawer
mismatched
—Mariola Grabowska,
 Asahi Haikuist Network, March 20, 2026 

My critique:
CRITIQUE OF A POEM BY ROMEO

Line 1: “last Valentine’s Day—”
O cruel remembrance! That day which should be crowned with love’s sweet vows instead returns as a dagger to my heart. For on that fated Valentine’s, hope did bloom—only to wilt before the sunset.

Line 2: “all the socks in my drawer”
Behold, even the humblest garments of my chamber bear witness to my sorrow. These stockings, once paired in quiet harmony, now parted by some cruel command.

Line 3: “mismatched”
Alas! Their broken union mirrors my own undone devotion. If even such lowly threads cannot remain entwined, what hope hath Romeo in love’s cruel game?

Link to the complete article on re:Virals